Monthly Archives: December 2010

one person must have dug through all the almost five hundred blog posts I’ve written here and found the one out of two posts I wrote that mentions for a brief sentence anything political to exclaim that by posting that lil ol sentence that I lose half my readers.

say what?

Yesterday, I had more readers than I have had for awhile. Why? Because I have been expressing my opinion about Obama. It ain’t rocket science. last time I looked, this was still America, although we’ve taken a lot of hits against being the home of the free… (tsa patdowns, tax cuts for the wealthy, republicans/faux news on the rampage against everything decent and good in our country, seniors/boomers becoming the new poor and homeless, etc).

Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbernmann, Faux News, and many other news people constantly write and say stuff on their blogs that is political and get hundreds if not thousands of comments from readers on all sides of the equation. duh…

A blog is to express opinions. That is my right to do here. And I do express my opinions.

If you do not like what I say, speak up and express yourself. If you do not agree, speak up.

I will agree to disagree with you. We can all be adults here. Children and adolescents have hissy fits and refuse to talk to people who don’t agree 100% with them. Or go sulk in the corner.

The way it works in the real world, here, in reality is that people have all sorts of opinions about all kinds of different topics. If you insulate yourself, isolate yourself, and only want to hang out with people who shut out the rest of the world like you do, that’s your choice and I am OK with that.

But don’t tell me what to do and act all holier than thou about how you love dogs and would like to support my work, but heavens to Betsy, I said ONE wrong thing and that forever banishes me from your kingdom.

About 12 years ago, when my sweet Abundance cat ran away and my world was turned completely topsy turvy upside down inside out and devastated, a very out of touch person said to me, “It’s just a cat.” Ok, at the time, the person was going through a divorce with kids. Still don’t think they’d say anything different today.

to me that cat was not just a cat. That cat was my sweet baby boy, my friend, my companion, my muse, my furry feline, always there, purring, making my life sweeter. He meant everything to me. I found out later more about what else was going on behind the scenes, but losing that cat and then having to let go of his brother Precious was very painful to me.

and so it is with Cici, she is not just a dog. For anyone to say that, they just don’t get animals and the roles they play in our lives.

How they make us laugh, keep us warm, take us for walks, make our lives more meaningful and fuller, how they give us so much more than they take, how they light up our lives with their joy, spontaneity and wisdom.

Animals are a gift and should never be taken lightly. If you keep a dog outside all day and all night, you should let that dog go to someone else who will love and take care proper care of it. Am hoping that Lola next door will get a better home. It is so cold outside and she was out there early in the morning and late last night. I called the SPCA again, hopefully they will talk to the owners. Another group will take her if the owners don’t really want her. If they did really want her, they’d keep her inside where she’d be safe and warm. Pray for her, please. She is a sweetie and deserves a better home.

these pit bull rescue folks get it, that a dog is not just a dog… they helped with the rescue and healing of the former bad newz dogs, am now calling them the good news dogs, and were recommended by BadRap who took in I think 13 of those dogs. Support this and other animal rescues with your time, dollars, energy. They deserve it… for the dogs. just the dogs. especially the rescuers who are taking care of all of the pit bulls and mixes. They are my heroes, for all they do. For the dogs. Thank you.

A new AKC survey finds that dogs are going to beat out kids and spouses in the gift-getting department this Christmas. Thirty-eight percent of respondents said their dogs would get the most money spent on their gifts, beating out kids (36%) and spouses (26%). In addition, if holiday expenses are being trimmed, 55% of people would spend less on their spouse than their pooch. To add spousal insult to injury, 78% plan on buying for other family members’ dogs, 66% plan on buying for friends’ dogs, and 15% plan on buying for their dog’s friends at the dog park.

Did you spend more on your dog(s) than spouse and kids this christmas? what did you get your dog(s)?

Also, a significant number of travelers said they intended to fly less and drive more, according to a poll of about 500 travelers, conducted by the Consumer Travel Alliance.

A combination of the TSA’s screening techniques, fees for baggage and a lack of customer service are pushing people towards driving their cars more and away from air travel. Good for the dogs, too. Are you taking your pooch anywhere special in 2011? on the road or by air?

Personally, I agree, I don’t like flying anyway. And I’d never let Cici be in the baggage compartment. I would fly her on Pet Airways but I’d rather drive or take a train, if only Amtrak let dogs on. If only we had a high speed train system like they are having in other parts of the civilized world. If only our country would stop worrying about profits and instead focused on how to actually serve people. Plenty of money and profits giving people what they actually want instead of the garbage we get because companies focus too much on the bottom line and not enough on customers wants and wishes.

Speaking of wishes, what are your New Year’s resolutions, dreams, wishes? taking your dog anywhere fun for New Year’s Eve? let us know.

Cici was up all night preparing her New Year’s Resolutions. Here they are:

* I will no longer pull my human down the street, exceptions may apply. (exceptions include other dogs, cats, squirrels, rabbits, lizards, and other prey who may go by at a moment’s notice that I just HAVE TO CHASE) .

* I will not fart, burp, or make other weird and disgusting noises in my human’s face nor breathe on her especially not while she is sleeping.

* I will not slurp my food nor slobber it all over the bowl and floor.

* Even though the toilet water is delicious, I will drink the water out of my bowl without whining.

* I will wait patiently by the door until my human decides it is time to take me out. And when she takes me out to the yard, I will not bark, nor whine, nor make other strange noises to indicate my misery.

* I will not eat large bones in a hurry until I choke on them, make my human worry about taking me to the vet and end up puking the bones all up.

* I will not eat poop under any circumstance, even if it’s a yummy taste sensation, cat litter snack and not even if it’s outside, in the neighbor’s yard, nor at a dog park.

* I will not growl at NOTHING in the dark, in the yard, nor chase after invisible NOTHINGS in the dark in the yard.

* I will not smile at my human with innocent looking eyes, indicating that I may have done something wrong but am covering it up by looking adorable and irresistibly cute.

* I will not be good while my human is in the house and then sneak into the garbage for a snack while she is away.

* I will not chew on dirty underwear, dirty socks or other tempting human clothing to appease my taste for my human’s scent.

* I will not stare pleadingly into her eyes until she does whatever I want her to do (feed me, walk me, play with me, rub my belly).

* I will no longer hog the bed, leaving my human hanging from the edge, nor sleep on my human’s head or butt, nor snore into my human’s face while she is sleeping.

* Barking at the treats will not make them pop into my mouth.

* When the doorbell rings, I will remember that it is not necessarily for me and let the humans answer the door. And when someone comes in the door, I will not jump on and slobber all over them.

* Mail sometimes comes for my human, large packages are not always for me, so I will not assume they are and poke my nosy cold wet nose into every package.

* I will not lick my butt and then lick my human or any human in the house in the face.

* When it is raining outside, I will go and do my doggie business quickly, despite not wanting to get my puppy paws wet. And I will not complain nor whine nor bark and then proceed to pounce into the mud and roll around in it.

* I will take my baths in stride, without a whimper, nor putting my puppy tail behind my bottom, looking sad and scared, all to make my human feel guilty for wanting me to be fresh, clean and smelling good.

* My first instinct to jump into and roll around in the horse poop, waste pile, manure, stinky dead animal or other obnoxious odors will lead to another bath I don’t want.

* When I shake myself off after my bath, I will do it out of range of my human. Flying water and fur is not on my human’s list of favorite things.

* The oven and stove are hot and if i stick my puppy paws or nose anywhere near the heat, I will be kicked out of the kitchen for good.

* When I am chasing my tail and scratching my butt, I will fall down and if I do, my human will be laughing her head off.

* I will no longer chase cats, nor sniff them in the air, or look all around the house for them after I hear cat noises on the TV screen, the big box with the moving pictures on it.

* Birds are my friends. They are not to be eaten or played with.

* I will not wag my tail at the speed of light and give my human and other humans tail lash and break all local tail wagging ordinances.

* I will not lick the baby in the mouth, nor knock over any children in order to give them a big swipe of my large tongue.

* Dog cookies and human cookies are not necessarily the same.

* I will try to not do lick-by’s even when tempted with naked human legs and feet as they walk by.

* Yes, the neighbor’s dog Lola is outside all of the time yapping. I do not have to yap or bark back at her every time I go outside in the yard.

* I do not need to bark whenever I am tied up outside of a store, certain that I am being left outside for good, or else one of these days, this might come true.

* When the humans are on the Internet, I will not sit so close that I knock them off the bed where they are sitting.

* If my human tells me to move away from her legs because they hurt, I will not sit on her legs to make them all better.

* When my human is typing at the computer, she does not need me to sit at her feet and keep them warm.

* Computer and TV wires and cables are not to be played with EVER.

* I am written about on a blog in her computer, so I will be happy, satisfied and grateful for my fame and fortune and all the perks that come with being a polka dot princess.

* I will sit patiently for my human to take lovely photos of me that she can post on said blog and let the world know what a lovely polka dot princess I am.

* I will not hamper my human from typing on the keyboard when my human is writing about me and other important xitpbeuxmeuemeictthhggg6453ncm.

* Any critter that has it this good should be willing to work for their snacks not demand them. I was not brought up in a barn and I should have table manners by now.

* I will not stalk lizards when I won’t do anything about the ants we sometimes get in the house.

* I will not eat tripe and garbage and then refuse to eat my veggies.

* A warm pepperoni pizza does not have my name on it. The pizza delivery box is not always for me.

* My human’s breakfast, lunch or dinner is not always good for me.

* I will no longer bark at other dogs when I am on leash and scare everyone to pretend I am a tough girl when really I am a softie at heart and have my breed to be a good ambassador for.

Does the Trojan corporation get a phone call from President Obama if it gives Tiger Woods “a second chance” with an exclusive multimillion-dollar condom endorsement deal? Would Trojan then be about the business of changing the perception of/leveling the playing field for philandering professional athletes? Imagine the campaign slogan…
“Unleash the Tiger in your pants! Got Wood?”

Michael Mountain, one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, speaks out about vick and President Obama.

Dear President Obama, please read the book lost dogs by jim gorant. should child molesters be able to adopt children?

85% in usa today poll say vick should never own a dog. he said he would still be dog fighting if he had not been caught. he never was charged with animal cruelty though he killed dogs with his bare hands for fun & profit.

i met 3 of the dogs. never let vick near bo. we can forgive but never forget. playing football is not a standard by which to let a dog killer near dogs ever again.

sincerely,

your name

Here is the petition letter…

I would add that if Obama was trying to win Pennsylvania votes, that strategy was POOR JUDGEMENT, wrong for the country and that you will not vote for him unless/until he changes his stance. I hesitate on this because I know that his opponents are jumping on this (Fox News) to hit him over the head with… sometimes I think Obama self-sabotages. Still, there is NO ROOM for politics when dog’s lives are at stake !!!

Dear President Obama:

It has been reported that you felt compelled to call the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, Jeffrey Lurie, to “thank” him for giving dog-fighter, Michael Vick, a second chance. It is baffling that you would step into the ring surrounding this controversial individual who has killed dogs in heinous ways with his own hands and barely served 2 years jail time for his actions. For some reason, you did make this choice, and as a Pit Bull advocate – a dog advocate – I cannot sit back and allow you to think you’ve done the right thing without hearing from my side.

There is no rehabilitation for this type of criminal. Particularly when the perpetrator himself has repeatedly said that he would still be fighting (killing) dogs if he hadn’t been caught. He has refused, time and again, to meet the rehabilitated survivors of his abuse – which would be a critical step in the right direction for him making amends with the dog community. Now he claims to want another dog in his home for his children – an arrogant statement only meant to fuel the fire he has created since his arrest. He deserves no such opportunity – ever.

It is particularly disconcerting to me that you have chosen to commend the criminal but have not once acknowledged the victims of his actions or, for that matter, the law enforcement officers and dog experts who handled the case. Until you meet some of these dogs, read the book The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant, and commend the people involved in ending the Bad Newz Kennel operation, I don’t see how you can embarrass yourself by making this phone call. You should apologize immediately for this decision.

this is a blog hop, i put in code, did it ten times, hopefully it will get you to where you are supposed to go…

If you are traveling for the holidays or any time you drive with your dog, you must get this fantastic complete dog travel package from Bergan no pooch should be without… they thought of everything but the kitchen sink !

1. slobber bag (don’t you love that name?) with adjustable straps, easy breezy to carry all your dog’s favorite goodies in even to the dog park. It has a drool proof water resistant inner lining, is durable and easy to clean

2. machine washable travel pad with soft fleece for comfort and water resistant, put on the floor or bed as makeshift bed or to cover furniture to keep dog hair off

3. bowls for food and water in various sizes and zips up to keep food fresh

it is lightweight for comfort and meets or exceeds Pet Safety Durability Test. there’s even a Youtube video for people to see how to put the harness on the dog (people like me who are unable to figure out how to do the simplest things).

plus there’s a portable dog bed, seat protectors and more.

am telling you me and Cici are going to go for a ride just to give the package a workout… oh yeah, it’s raining, it’s pouring, all the dogs are snoring, but no worries everything is water resistant… still, us humans prefer inside to outside when it rains.

NewsHound and Dog Travel Expert

Welcome! I'm CeliaSue, a creative California-based freelance writer who wants to help you travel with your pets and enjoy the ride. I provide reliable travel info for California, and the Southwest USA (occasionally the rest of the country), plus lifestyle inspiration about being a doggie mama on the road with a spoiled yet friendly polka dot princess named Cici. I also write about romance, eco friendly, spiritual, healthy and luxury travel for various publications.

prmatchmaker at yahoo.com

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CeliaSue Hecht is a third-generation American, originally from New York. She has lived much of her adult life in California and Nevada and is a doggie mama and chocoholic plus a proponent of tiny homes and alternative energy and medicine. In the 70’s and 90’s, she taught personal growth workshops and seminars in Los Angeles and Munich, Germany. In the late 1980’s, she traveled around the world for three years with an international, interfaith, interdenominational, intercessory prayer ministry (Bangladesh, Canada, England, France, Germany, Holland, India, Israel, Singapore, Thailand). She has worked with people with AIDS, fibromyalgia, cancer, people without homes, Holocaust survivors, as well as written about diverse topics such as women’s topics, activism against the Yucca Mountain project in Nevada, alternative health and therapies and travel pieces in numerous magazines and newspapers. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook or Linkedin. Co-author of five romantic travel guides. Go to Paypal and buy CeliaSue a romantic comedy to read on the beach while munching on a chocolate bar.

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